CVE-2025-24250 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows a malicious application, masquerading as an HTTPS proxy, to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access restrictions that enable the malicious app to intercept or access confidential information transmitted over HTTPS connections. This flaw affects multiple versions of macOS prior to the patched releases Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor), indicating that the core issue is unauthorized data disclosure. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability, with attack vector being network-based (AV:N), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction needed (UI:N), and impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker can remotely exploit the vulnerability without any authentication or user action, making it highly dangerous. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, the potential for abuse is significant, especially in environments where users install third-party applications that could act as proxies. The vulnerability could allow attackers to intercept HTTPS traffic, potentially exposing passwords, tokens, private communications, and other sensitive data. The fix involves improved access restrictions that prevent malicious apps from acting as HTTPS proxies with elevated access. Organizations running vulnerable macOS versions should prioritize patching to the fixed releases to mitigate this risk.

The impact of CVE-2025-24250 on European organizations is substantial due to the critical nature of the vulnerability and the widespread use of macOS devices in enterprise and government environments. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including credentials, confidential communications, and proprietary information, severely compromising confidentiality. The integrity of data could also be affected if attackers manipulate intercepted traffic, and availability could be impacted if the proxy functionality is abused to disrupt network communications. European organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology, which often rely on macOS for secure operations, face increased risk of data breaches and espionage. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged for lateral movement within networks or to facilitate further attacks. The lack of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the threat level. This could result in regulatory compliance violations under GDPR due to data exposure, leading to legal and financial consequences. The potential impact extends to both private and public sectors, emphasizing the need for urgent remediation.

To mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2025-24250, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Immediately update all macOS devices to the patched versions Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, or Sonoma 14.7.5 to apply the security fix. 2) Enforce strict application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted or unsigned applications that could act as malicious HTTPS proxies. 3) Monitor and audit network proxy configurations regularly to detect unauthorized or suspicious proxy setups. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous proxy behavior or network interception attempts. 5) Educate users about the risks of installing unknown software and encourage reporting of unusual network activity. 6) Implement network segmentation to limit the exposure of sensitive systems to potentially compromised devices. 7) Use network traffic analysis tools to detect unusual HTTPS traffic patterns indicative of interception. 8) Review and tighten macOS security settings related to network and proxy permissions. These targeted actions go beyond generic patching and help reduce the attack surface and detect exploitation attempts early.